Bob Deffinbaugh, “When a Right May Be Wrong,” at Bible.org: Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 9 sheds new light on the matter of pleasing God. Pleasing God does not result from merely keeping the rules. Pleasing God comes from personal sacrifice, for the glory of God, the good of others, and the advance of the gospel. Many … More Pleasing God goes far beyond keeping the rules.
Mark 5:18-20 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has … More Ryle: Let us not be silent
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah —Psalm 82:1-2 ESV C.H. Spurgeon comment on this passage: A higher authority will criticise the decision of petty … More The Judge of judges is in session
As we read Judges 1-3 today, a little help from Kim Riddlebarger’s sermon series on Judges: And then there are the judges themselves–men whom God raises up to rescue Israel from some military or political crisis, but who can do nothing about the nation’s spiritual condition. Remember that Israel’s judges are not jurists presiding over … More God sends a Deliverer
Stronger and weaker brothers, freedom and love, all issues addressed in our Bible-reading passage in 1 Corinthians today. Here’s some help: Bob Deffinbaugh, “The Great Divorce—Separating “Truth From Love” at Bible.org: I would like to suggest that we take a good, long look at these two categories of the “stronger” brother and the “weaker” brother. As … More Love and liberty
J.C. Ryle comments on “The Parable of the Seed Growing” in Mark 4:26-28 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the … More God alone can give success
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. —Psalm 81: 10 You may easily over expect the creature, but you cannot over expect God: “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it”; widen and dilate the desires and expectations of your souls, and God is able to fill every chink to the vastest … More God is able to fill every chink to the vastest capacity
Joshua 24:16-18 “Then the people answered, `Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight … More We will serve the LORD… Jesus
Paul steps on a few Corinthian toes. John Piper comments: [1 Corinthians 7] Verse 19 says literally, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God (is everything).” That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. And if we understand its broad cultural … More Paul: unfashionable and offensive, but radically God-oriented
J. C. Ryle on Mark 4:1-20 These verses contain the parable of the sower. Of all the parables spoken by our Lord, none is probably so well-known as this. There is none which is so easily understood by all, from the gracious familiarity of the figures which it contains. There is none which is of … More Where’s the fruit?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 